Chapter 61: Villainess Princess × Slave (24)

Before Lyra could even process the absolute disaster of her falling metrics, Mabel’s father, the Chief Imperial Physician, rushed out from the crowd and dropped to his knees right in front of Lyra.

"Your Imperial Highness!" the old physician begged, pressing his forehead against the polished marble floor. "Please spare my foolish daughter! She is young and ignorant of royal etiquette! Please do not drag her into the estate as a servant, I beg of you!"

The surrounding nobles whispered among themselves, taking pity on the weeping old man.

However, Lyra put on her most unforgiving posture, raising her chin high. "Silence!" she sneered, her voice echoing coldly over the quiet hall. "This princess has spoken! Her punishment is decided, and no one shall question my authority!"

Mabel, still sitting on the cold floor with her hand resting on her red cheek, quickly pulled her crying father up. Her blue eyes shone with strange, unwavering devotion as she looked at Lyra.

"It is alright, Father," Mabel said softly, her voice full of genuine acceptance. "Her Highness has shown great mercy by taking me into her estate instead of throwing me into the royal dungeons. I shall fulfill my duties dutifully."

"Hmph!" Lyra let out a loud, dramatic scoff, turning her back on them. "A wise choice!"

Without waiting another second, Lyra turned on her heel and began walking out of the grand banquet hall, her ruined gown swishing against the floor.

Cassian immediately stepped into place, following right behind her. As he passed by Mabel, he cast a deathly cold glance toward her.

Mabel accidentally caught Cassian’s gaze. An instinctual pure terror washed over her- a chilling sensation as if a sharp blade had just grazed her throat. Her body shivered, goosebumps breaking out across her arms as she quickly lowered her head, completely terrified of the princess’s dark guard.

The walk back to the estate was filled with silence.

The moment they entered Lyra’s grand bedchamber, the doors clicked shut behind them. Lyra stood near the armchair, unfastening her heavy jewelry. She turned around to see Cassian standing near the doorway, his tall frame still, his dark face completely blank and unreadable.

Lyra crossed her arms, trying her absolute best to act like an arrogant tyrant.

"What?" Lyra sneered, raising her eyebrows at him. "Are you standing there looking like a ghost because you’re feeling bad for her? Do you feel sorry for your delicate little doctor’s daughter?"

Cassian didn’t blink. He simply stared directly into Lyra’s dark eyes, his pitch-black gaze intensely focused on her face.

Slowly, Cassian took two steps forward. His raspy voice dropped into a low, smooth purr that vibrated softly in the quiet room.

"Of course not..." Cassian murmured, stepping close enough that his shadow completely engulfed her frame. "...I am only your slave, Princess."

SHIVER!

An odd, dangerous chill instantly shot down Lyra’s spine!

His voice sounded so calm, yet his dark eyes were burning with an intense depth that made her heart race wildly.

W-What is with that tone?! Lyra panicked internally, her hands clenching into her silk dress. Is he threatening me?! Is he secretly telling me he’s going to strangle me in my sleep tonight?! Whatever! I don’t care!

"K-Keep that in mind!" Lyra stammered out quickly, turning her face away to hide her flustered expression. "Now get out while I change!"

Right on cue, four head maids walked into the bedchamber carrying fresh nightgowns and warm towels. Cassian bowed slightly, his blank face showing no emotion as he stepped out into the dark hallway and pulled the doors shut behind him.

Inside the room, the maids carefully unlaced her stained dress and helped her wash her face. Once she was dressed in a soft, loose pale-pink nightgown, Lyra dismissed the maids and collapsed onto her soft bed with a massive sigh of relief.

"Ahhh... finally!" Lyra groaned, hugging her soft pillow tightly. "What a chaotic night! But at least I successfully bullied the Female Lead and forced her into my estate! Now my villainess points should rise!"

Suddenly-

Ding!

A glowing blue screen popped up right in front of her nose, flashing rapidly with yellow warning icons.

[ HOST! SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG! ] the System’s digital voice chimed, sounding utterly bewildered.

Lyra sat up on her bed, her dark eyes blinking in confusion. "What now? Did the plot fail again?"

[ NO, THE SLAP EVENT REGISTERED AS COMPLETED... BUT THE MALE LEAD’S EMOTIONAL METRICS ARE ACTING COMPLETED CRAZY! ] the System shrieked, floating frantically back and forth. [ FOR SOME UNEXPLAINABLE REASON, IT FEELS LIKE THE MALE LEAD DOESN’T LIKE THE FEMALE LEAD AT ALL! ]

"Huh?!" Lyra’s jaw dropped. "What do you mean he doesn’t like her?! They’re the main couple of this world! They’re supposed to fall in love!!"

[ WELL, HE DIDN’T! ] the System wailed. [ HE LOOKED AT HER WITH PURE MURDEROUS INTENT! HIS HATRED FOR HER IS HIGHER THAN HIS HATRED FOR YOU RIGHT NOW! ]

Lyra grabbed her head in absolute, complete despair. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS STORY?!"

---------------------

Meanwhile, outside the imperial palace walls...

The night was pitch-black. Cold autumn wind blew through the quiet, narrow alleys of the capital’s medical district.

Mabel was walking back toward the physician’s manor, holding a small lantern to light her path through the foggy street. Her heart was still beating excitedly over the thought of moving into Princess Lyra’s estate tomorrow morning.

Suddenly, a swift rustle of wind echoed above her head!

SWOOSH!

Before Mabel could even scream, a tall, shadowy figure dropped from the rooftops, blocking her path completely!

Mabel gasped, dropping her lantern onto the cobblestones. The dim yellow light illuminated the man standing before her. He was dressed entirely in black gear, a tight black cloth mask covering the lower half of his face, leaving only a pair of pitch-black eyes visible under the moonlight.

It was Cassian!

Before Mabel could turn and run, Cassian moved with speed! He stepped forward, grabbing her roughly by her collar and shoving her hard against the cold stone wall of the alleyway!

THUD!

"Ngh!" Mabel choked out, her blue eyes wide with pure, paralyzing terror as the edge of a steel dagger pressed directly against her delicate throat!

"Make a single sound, and you die here," Cassian growled, his raspy voice laced with a thick, murderous aura that made the cold night air feel like ice.

Mabel’s entire body shivered violently. She recognized those pitch-black eyes immediately- it was Princess Lyra’s quiet guard!

"W-Who... what do you want from me?!" Mabel stammered out frantically, tears of fear welling up in her eyes. "I am just the physician’s daughter!"

Cassian leaned down close, his dark eyes narrowing into slits as he stared down at her trembling face. He didn’t care about her soft, angelic looks. He didn’t care about her innocent status. To him, her sudden appearance near Lyra was deeply suspicious.

"Who are you working for?" Cassian asked low and icy, his dagger biting slightly closer to her skin. "Did Crown Prince Julian send you to spy on Princess Lyra? Or is the Emperor using you to poison her food?"

Mabel’s breath hitched in sheer shock. "W-What?! No! I don’t work for Prince Julian! I don’t work for the Emperor! I swear on my life!"

"Lies," Cassian growled, his grip on her collar tightening. "You approached her in the market last week. You approached her again at the banquet tonight. You let her slap you and willingly agreed to enter her estate as a maid without a single complaint. No noblewoman accepts such humiliation unless she has a hidden motive."

His pitch-black eyes flashed with a dark rage as he glared down at her.

"If you are planning to harm a single hair on Princess Lyra’s head..." Cassian whispered, his voice dropping into a bloodcurdling l promise, "...I will personally tear your throat out and feed your corpse to the dogs before you even touch her teacup."

Mabel’s soul practically left her body in horror! She shook her head frantically, crying out in terror.

"I DON’T WANT TO HARM HER!" Mabel sobbed out, her voice trembling uncontrollably. "I... I admire Her Highness! She saved me from hooligans in the market last week! She protected me! I just wanted to serve her and repay her kindness! I swear I have no bad intentions toward the Princess!"

Cassian stayed completely motionless, his eyes searching her crying face with intense scrutiny.

The alleyway fell into a silence, broken only by the cold wind howling through the buildings and Mabel’s terrified whimpers.

After several long seconds, Cassian slowly pulled the sharp dagger back from her throat, though his dark gaze remained as cold as ice.

"If I find out you are lying..." Cassian warned raspy and low, stepping back into the deep shadows of the alley, "...there will be no second warning."

SWOOSH!

Before Mabel could even catch her breath, Cassian vanished into the pitch-black night as if he had never been there at all, leaving the Female Lead shaking hysterically against the stone wall, clutching her throat in absolute terror.

Back in the grand bedchamber of the royal estate, the warm fireplace crackled softly.

Lyra lay under her heavy blankets, staring up at the dark wooden ceiling. Her body was completely exhausted, but her mind was spinning in chaotic circles.

Ding!

A quiet notification screen flickered softly in the dark above her bed.

[ CASSIAN DRAVEN’S HATRED METRIC UPDATED! ]

Hatred toward Host: 35% ➔ 31%

REASON: Target has secretly interrogated and threatened the Female Lead to eliminate any potential danger toward Host’s life!

Lyra’s dark eyes widened in horror as she read the floating blue text!

"HE DID WHAT TO THE FEMALE LEAD?!" Lyra shrieked, sitting up on her bed and grabbing her hair in madness. "SYSTEM! WHY IS THE MALE LEAD BECOMING MY PERSONAL BODYGUARD AND THREATENING HIS OWN HEROINE?! THIS STORY IS COMPLETELY BROKEN!"

Out in the dark hallway outside her room, standing silently near the wooden doors, Cassian stood with his hands behind his back.

He heard her sudden muffled scream from inside the room. The corners of his lips curved upward into a subtle, hidden, and deeply possessive smile in the dark.